Reverend James Moore Sr. (February 1, 1956 – June 7, 2000), born James Leslie Moore, was an American

gospel Gospel originally meant the Christian message ("the gospel"), but in the 2nd century it came to be used also for the books in which the message was set out. In this sense a gospel can be defined as a loose-knit, episodic narrative of the words an ...

artist. He died in 2000, aged 44.

Career

In his earlier days, Moore received much of his tutelage and artistic craft by gospel music legends and personal friends such as the late Dr.

Mattie Moss Clark Mattie Moss Clark (born Mattie Juliet Moss; March 26, 1925 – September 22, 1994) was an American gospel choir director and the mother of The Clark Sisters, a gospel vocal group. She was the longest-serving International Minister of Music for th ...

, the late Rev.

James Cleveland James Edward Cleveland (December 5, 1931 – February 9, 1991) was an American gospel singer, musician, and composer. Known as the King of Gospel, Cleveland was a driving force behind the creation of the modern gospel sound by incorporating trad ...

, and Bishop Richard "Mr. Clean" White, among many others.Bush, John. He also gave much acclaim to the

Gospel Music Workshop of America Gospel Music Workshop of America is an international music convention founded by Rev. James Cleveland. GMWA membership Active GMWA Membership ranges from professional and amateur Gospel vocalists to instrumentalists, composers, arrangers, directo ...

(GMWA) for the molding of his gospel music career . After many chart-topping gospel hits and much noted success in the 1980s and early '90s, Moore soon became a household name among many gospel music listeners.North, Stan. He recorded two live albums, in 1991 and 1995, with The Mississippi Mass Choir, singing duets with founding member

Franklin Delano Williams Franklin Delano Williams ( in Smithdale, Mississippi – in Savannah, Georgia) was an American gospel music singer. Musical career As a child and during his early teens he joined the Southern Gospel Singers and later, The Williams Brothers. ...

on the 1991 album. In the mid-'90s Moore was diagnosed with

colon cancer Colorectal cancer (CRC), also known as bowel cancer, colon cancer, or rectal cancer, is the development of cancer from the colon or rectum (parts of the large intestine). Signs and symptoms may include blood in the stool, a change in bowel mo ...

, and his health began to suffer. After recording a new album in May 1994, he was diagnosed with

diabetes Diabetes, also known as diabetes mellitus, is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by a high blood sugar level ( hyperglycemia) over a prolonged period of time. Symptoms often include frequent urination, increased thirst and increased ap ...

, which left him bound to a

wheelchair A wheelchair is a chair with wheels, used when walking is difficult or impossible due to illness, injury, problems related to old age, or disability. These can include spinal cord injuries ( paraplegia, hemiplegia, and quadriplegia), cerebr ...

, blind and placed on dialysis. Determined to disallow any disease from hindering him to sing and minister, Moore continued singing, ministering, and recording. Moore's last recordings, "It Ain't Over (Til God Says It's Over)" which was recorded on his forty-first birthday in 1997 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and another album entitled ''Family and Friends, Live in Detroit'', was recorded in the summer of 1999 in his hometown of Detroit, with some of his dearest industry friends and gospel notables, such as

Vanessa Bell Armstrong Vanessa Bell Armstrong ( Bell; born October 2, 1953) is an American gospel singer who released her debut album '' Peace Be Still'' in 1983. Armstrong is an 7x Grammy Award Nominee, Stellar Award Winner, and a Soul Train Award winner. She has wo ...

, Rudolph Stanfield, and Darius Twyman. The album was released in early 2000, shortly before his death at the age of 44. He leaves 2 children, a daughter named Tamara Moore & a son named Armel Moore.

Awards

Rev. Moore has also won several awards and accolades, which include a

Stellar Award A Stellar Award is an award presented by SAGMA to recognize achievements in the gospel music industry.Sagma
The Stell ...

for Best Male Solo Performance, three Grammy Nominations,

Dove Award A Dove Award is an accolade by the Gospel Music Association (GMA) of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the Christian music industry. The awards are presented annually. Formerly held in Nashville, Tennessee, the Dove Awards ...

Recipient, and several awards from the GMWA.

References

External links

*
James Moore memorial
{{DEFAULTSORT:Moore, James 1956 births 2000 deaths Deaths from diabetes American gospel singers Singers from Detroit American Pentecostals Members of the Church of God in Christ Church of God in Christ pastors 20th-century African-American male singers